Williams Has Decisive Say In Derby Dogfight

Nick Williams’ 76th-minute try ended Connacht’s unbeaten home record this season as Ulster won a closely-fought festive derby 10-3 at the Sportsground.

Man-of-the-match Nick Williams muscled over from a close range ruck to decide this interprovincial clash, handing Connacht their first defeat in eight home games and keeping his own side on the winning trail.

A tight first half ended 3-0 in Ulster’s, with Paddy Jackson’s 32nd-minute penalty putting Les Kiss’ Toulouse conquerors in front after they had weathered an early storm.

After two penalty misses from Craig Ronaldson, replacement out-half AJ MacGinty booted the hosts level while Ulster centre Luke Marshall was in the sin-bin. However, number 8 Williams ensured the men in white had the final say.

Connacht hammered away at the visitors’ defence during a typically frenetic opening in Galway, two lineout mauls getting them within sight of the try-line and their backs also pressing out wide.

Ulster’s defence held firm, though, and Pat Lam’s frustrated charges had nothing to show for a 72% share of possession. Entering the second quarter, Ulster’s centre pairing of Stuart McCloskey and Marshall began to press with ball in hand.

Connacht’s tackling was ferocious at times, Kieran Marmion catching fellow Ireland international Robbie Diack with a thunderous effort, but it was a cagey affair for the most part with handling errors blunting both attacks.

Hands in the ruck allowed Jackson to boot Ulster in front from long range, drilling over from a left-sided position, and their young left winger Rory Scholes imposed himself with a couple of quick-witted runs.

Ronaldson, who had missed a difficult first half kick, sent a 49th minute penalty to the left and wide and Ulster were able to absorb the pressure very effectively, a scrum penalty sending them back into the Connacht half.

Scholes threatened again, this time on a midfield burst, but Marshall’s cut-out pass landed at the waiting Andrew Trimble’s feet and the experienced winger knocked on.

Marshall soon saw yellow, earning ten minutes in the sin bin for tripping MacGinty as he launched a breakout from deep. The westerners were thwarted until a scrum penalty allowed MacGinty to kick them level from outside the 22.

It was tit-for-tat fare until Ulster conjured up the match’s only try, quick ball from a scrum allowing Marshall to crash up close to the posts and Williams arrived in timely fashion to plunge over from the resulting ruck. Jackson’s conversion made it a seven-point winning margin.